The Detroit Lions missed the playoffs last season, and while they still finished with a winning record, the result was widely disappointing. Dan Campbell's head-coaching seat isn't hot by any means, but this team can't afford to have that type of season again in 2026.
Considering that, general manager Brian Holmes might be forced to make some tough calls. The Lions can't afford to get sentimental, and they will need to keep around and play only those who can put the team in a position to succeed.
That's why, with spring workouts in the record books, some players will still need to earn their keep in training camp. Whether it's playing time or their actual roster spot, these three veterans will have to show that they're worth it.
3 Lions who might be on thin ice before training camp
Giovanni Manu
The Lions made a bold gamble when they took Gioanni Manu. He was a work in progress who would need some time to adjust, but after redshirting his rookie season, a season-ending knee injury kept him on the shelf for most of his second campaign as well.
Manu's physical tools were enticing, but that's not nearly enough to make it in this league. He's played a grand total of 69 snaps in his two seasons, with 62 coming in a single game. The clock is ticking on the former third-round pick, and with rookie Blake Miller also fighting to make a name for himself, there might not be many, if any, snaps left for him.
Sione Vaki
Sione Vaki was a strong candidate for more touches after David Montgomery's departure, but he may have lost that ground with Isiah Pacheco's arrival. Then, with the Lions also adding Greg Dortch to the mix, he got even more competition for special team touches as well.
The Lions will break the bank to give Jahmyr Gibbs a market-resetting deal, so it's not like there will be a ton of carries up for grabs. As such, Vaki will have to make every single training camp drill and rep count to prove that he can also be a reliable contributor. Pacheco wasn't efficient last year, so there's an opening for more playing time, but he's got to prove that he's worth keeping around first.
Alim McNeill
Alim McNeill's struggles aren't necessarily on him, and it's hard to believe the Lions would ever bench a player making $23.8 million. That said, he hasn't been nearly as dominant against the run when healthy, and with just one sack last season, he didn't bring that much to the table in the pass-rushing department, either.
McNeill will have the third-highest cap hit on the team next season, and he has plenty of catching up to do to live up to that type of financial burden. Expectations are high for the third year of his massive contract extension, so this will be a make-or-break season for him to prove that it wasn't all a huge waste of money. Availability is the best ability, and he's missed 21 games in the past three years.
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